Arewa Forum hails S'East leaders for disowning IPOB, ESN

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has commended the South-East leaders for disowning the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network.

This is even as the group planned to meet with Ohanaeze, Afenifere, and South-South as part of efforts to sanitise the fragile peace bedeviling the country.

Assuring protection of Ndiigbo in the North, the Forum called on the South-East leaders to stop their people from harassing and killing the ordinary Northerners plying their trade in their region.

This is contained in a communique which was read by the national chairman of ACF, Chief Audu Ogbeh on Thursday. According to Chief Ogbe, the forum has received reports that ordinary citizens who are earning their daily life are being attacked.

“The Forum expressed satisfaction that the Igbo elders have finally disowned the agitators and called on the elders to take concrete measures to ensure that such agitations come to an end.

“The ACF notes that the South-East Leaders called on Northern leaders to protect their indigenes who are living in the North. We wish to assure them that all Igbos who are living in the North are guaranteed their personal security; sometimes they enjoy a security which even Northerners do not enjoy.

“On the other hand, we have received reports on a daily basis of Northerners, ordinary citizens who are earning their daily life as nail cutters, suya makers, shoe shiners, onion sellers, are being bullied, beaten and even killed.

“We hope these ordinary Northerners are given the same protection we have given the South-Easterners in our midst.

“In the very near future, the Forum hopes to meet with leaders of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Afenifere and South-South leaders to discuss the lingering issues in the country that have tended to pitch ethnic and regional groups against each other,” the communique said.